University of Massachusetts Amherst Scholarships for International Students 2026

Yes—some scholarships can apply to online study through UMass Amherst pathways like University Without Walls (UWW), which supports students completing degrees with online flexibility (including donor-funded scholarships tied to UWW programs).

UMass Amherst scholarships span a wide range of subjects, and many awards are tied to your school/college, major, or academic interests (the UMass Amherst scholarship system lists scholarships across disciplines and matches students after they submit a general application).

• Business (including MBA/Master’s): Programs in areas like business analytics, finance, marketing, and management often list scholarship-related requirements alongside admissions materials (e.g., personal statement, resume, recommendations).
• Engineering & STEM: Scholarships exist across engineering, computer science, math, and the natural sciences; some programs also highlight how strongly they weigh items like GPA, letters, and personal statements.
• Humanities & arts: UMass Amherst’s scholarship listings include humanities-focused awards (e.g., humanities scholarships, writing prizes, arts and architecture-related awards), so humanities and creative fields are clearly represented.
• Health fields (public health & nursing): UMass Amherst has scholarship opportunities for nursing students (the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing notes that scholarships open annually for currently enrolled UMass Amherst students). For public health, scholarship funding is also advertised at the school level.
• Medicine (MD): UMass Amherst itself is not an MD-granting campus; the MD is offered at UMass Chan Medical School (Worcester). If you mean “medicine” as an MD program, you’d look at UMass Chan admissions and funding rather than Amherst-based scholarships.

It depends on the scholarship. Some UMass Amherst-connected scholarships are open to international students (GlobalScholarships lists multiple scholarship options for international students connected to UMass Amherst, including university awards and assistantships), while others have residency/citizenship restrictions.

If you’re an international student, also consider external/government funding routes that can be used at UMass Amherst (for instance, Fulbright-type funding and other external awards are commonly combined with university funding depending on the program and level).

Often yes, especially if English is not your first language and/or you have not studied in an English-medium setting for the required period. UMass Amherst accepts common English proficiency exams (such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo), and some graduate units also describe waiver conditions (for example, some programs note TOEFL may be waived after two full-time academic years at a U.S. college/university).

Tip: requirements can differ by level (undergraduate vs. graduate) and by department, so always confirm the exact score policy for your program.

For first-year undergraduate admission, UMass Amherst is commonly described as using holistic review (so there isn’t a single guaranteed “minimum GPA” that ensures admission). Some pathways (like transfer) may publish typical competitive GPAs, and many graduate programs have program-specific minimum GPA expectations.

At the graduate level, some programs explicitly state minimums (for example, some professional/online graduate programs list a minimum cumulative GPA, and some business programs publish GPA thresholds tied to test waivers).

Usually no, most UMass Amherst scholarships are based on criteria like enrollment status, academic program, academic performance, financial need, and/or identity/leadership criteria rather than age. UMass Amherst’s UWW pathway explicitly serves “nontraditional students,” which strongly suggests adult learners are eligible for scholarships when they meet the award criteria.

“Good academic background” varies by scholarship, but common patterns include strong grades in relevant coursework, clear academic direction, and evidence you’ll thrive in your chosen major/program (some scholarships are merit-based; others are need-based; many are major/college-specific).

For international students, a practical minimum eligibility checklist often looks like: meeting admissions requirements, meeting English proficiency requirements if applicable, and matching scholarship criteria (level, major, enrollment status, deadlines, and any residency restrictions).

Undergraduate (typical): You usually apply via the Common Application and submit required academic records and supporting materials (exact items can differ for domestic vs. international applicants, and some items may be optional depending on policy).

• Application form (Common App) and application fee (amount can vary by applicant type)
• High school transcript/academic record (often including a self-reported academic record step where applicable)
• English proficiency scores (if you’re an international applicant or otherwise required to demonstrate English ability)
• Optional standardized tests (if test-optional is in effect for your applicant type/program)
• Essays/personal statements (as required by the application)

Graduate (typical, but program-specific): Many UMass Amherst graduate programs commonly require an online application plus academic and professional documents.

• Online application
• Personal statement (and sometimes an additional short essay, depending on the program)
• Resume/CV
• Transcripts (often unofficial for review; official after admission)
• Letters of recommendation (often 2–3)
• English exam scores for international applicants (TOEFL/IELTS and/or other accepted exams; waiver rules may apply in some cases)
• Program-specific extras (portfolio, writing sample, interview, GMAT/GRE; sometimes optional or waiver-eligible)

Undergraduate: Yes. UMass Amherst commonly lists a nonrefundable application fee for first-year applicants via the Common Application, and international applicant pages may list a different amount (so check the fee that matches your applicant category).

Graduate: Yes. Many UMass Amherst graduate applications list a nonrefundable application fee; some programs also mention fee waivers for specific groups (for example, military applicants in some business programs, or limited fee-waiver processes for PhD applicants facing hardship).